Flight Attendant Salary in Singapore (2026): SIA, Scoot & Jetstar Breakdown

Flight attendant pay in Singapore is structured differently from most jobs. A fixed basic salary is only part of the picture. Flying allowances, layover allowances, and destination-specific per diems make up a large portion of total take-home pay, and the amount you earn each month varies depending on how many sectors you fly and where your routes take you. This guide breaks down SIA, Scoot, and Jetstar cabin crew compensation in full so you know what to expect at each career stage.

How Flight Attendant Pay Works in Singapore

Unlike a standard office job, cabin crew pay has three main components:

Basic pay: A fixed monthly amount that forms the foundation of your salary. For SIA junior cabin crew, this is approximately S$1,300 to S$1,600 per month. This is deliberately low, as it is not intended to be your full income.

Flying allowance: Paid per flying hour or sector, this is the core variable element of cabin crew pay. The more you fly, the more you earn. On an active long-haul month, flying allowances can comfortably double your basic pay.

Layover allowance (per diem): When crew stay overnight at a destination, they receive a per diem to cover accommodation (provided separately) and meals. SIA layover allowances range from approximately USD$50 to USD$100 per night depending on the city, with major cities like London, New York, and Sydney at the higher end.

This structure means two junior cabin crew members can earn quite different monthly totals depending on the routes they are assigned to. Long-haul routes to Europe and North America generate significantly more allowance income than short regional hops.

SIA Cabin Crew Salary by Level

Level	Experience	Monthly Total (Approx)	Annual (Approx)
Junior Cabin Crew	0-2 years	S$2,800 - S$3,500	S$36,000 - S$42,000
Cabin Crew (Mid)	2-5 years	S$3,500 - S$4,500	S$42,000 - S$54,000
In-Flight Supervisor	5-8 years	S$4,500 - S$5,500	S$54,000 - S$66,000
Purser	8-12 years	S$5,500 - S$6,500	S$66,000 - S$78,000
Senior Purser	12+ years	S$6,500 - S$8,000+	S$78,000 - S$96,000+

Monthly totals include basic pay, average flying allowances, and average layover allowances based on a typical roster mix of long-haul and regional routes. Actual monthly figures vary.

Scoot and Jetstar Cabin Crew Salary

Scoot and Jetstar cabin crew earn approximately 10 to 20 percent less than their SIA counterparts at equivalent experience levels. This is partly because both airlines operate primarily regional routes (Southeast Asia, Northeast Asia, Australia), which generate less layover allowance than SIA's long-haul network.

Level	Scoot Monthly (Approx)	Jetstar Monthly (Approx)
Junior Cabin Crew	S$2,200 - S$2,800	S$2,000 - S$2,600
Senior Cabin Crew	S$3,000 - S$4,000	S$2,800 - S$3,800
In-Flight Leader	S$4,000 - S$5,000	S$3,800 - S$4,800

Both carriers offer contract-based employment initially, with conversion to permanent terms after satisfactory performance.

Benefits Beyond Base Pay

Salary figures alone do not capture the full value of a cabin crew career in Singapore:

Staff travel benefits: SIA cabin crew and their immediate family members receive heavily discounted travel on SIA flights, with space-available upgrades. This is one of the most valued non-cash benefits in the profession.

Uniform provision: Full uniforms are provided and replaced by the airline. SIA's iconic sarong kebaya uniform is designed by Balmain.

Meals on duty: All meals during duty hours are provided by the airline.

Medical coverage: SIA provides comprehensive medical and dental coverage for crew.

Annual leave: Cabin crew accumulate leave, though scheduling leave around rosters requires planning. Long-haul crew often have extended time off between duty cycles.

How to Increase Your Cabin Crew Salary

Career progression in cabin crew is structured and tied to years of service and performance assessments. To move up the ladder faster:

Volunteer for long-haul routes to maximise allowance income
Perform consistently across service and safety assessments to qualify for early promotion
Progress from cabin crew to In-Flight Supervisor to Purser track, where the salary step-ups are significant
Consider SIA's senior management pathway for experienced pursers who move into training or ground-based leadership roles

For details on how to enter the profession, see the how to become a flight attendant in Singapore guide.

FAQ

Do flight attendants in Singapore get good benefits?

Yes, particularly at SIA. The staff travel benefit is one of the most tangible perks: heavily discounted flights on one of the world's top-rated airlines, extended to immediate family members. When combined with full uniform provision, on-duty meals, and comprehensive medical coverage, the total package is competitive with many white-collar roles at the junior level. The lifestyle element (international layovers, seeing new cities on paid per diems) is also a significant draw for many crew.

Does SIA pay better than Scoot?

Yes, SIA pays 10 to 20 percent more at equivalent seniority levels, and the gap widens at senior levels because SIA's long-haul network generates higher layover allowances. However, Scoot and Jetstar offer a lower barrier to entry and can be a good starting point for candidates who want to build experience before attempting SIA's more competitive selection process.

How do layover allowances work?

When cabin crew are required to stay overnight at a destination before their next duty, the airline pays a per diem allowance to cover meals and incidentals. Accommodation is separately arranged and paid for by the airline. SIA's layover allowances are paid in the local currency or USD depending on the destination and typically range from USD$50 to USD$100 per night. On a monthly roster with several long-haul layovers, this can add several hundred to over a thousand Singapore dollars to total take-home pay.